some territorial distributions. The island had been ceded to Great Britain at the last peace, and though no stipulation had been made in favour of the Caribbees, yet instructions had been given that they should not be molested. Some, however, of the French settlers sold their possessions to English adventurers, and these persons perceiving that some of the most fertile parts of the island were in the hands of the Caribs, made such representations to government that directions were given for the survey of these lands, and the dispossessing of the ancient inhabitants who were to be removed to distant and mountainous parts of the island, receiving some pecuniary compensation. These unjustifiable proceedings naturally influenced the minds of a brave and sensitive people, who remonstrated against the survey-destroyed the roads which were formed, and burnt the huts built for the surveyors. The Caribs were therefore immediately denounced as daring and incorrigible rebels, and an armament was prepared to remove them from their native land, or entirely exterminate them. Mr. S. in consequence applied to Lord Dartmouth, the then secretary of state for the colonies, in a long and forcible letter. His lordship immediately appointed an interview; and the result was, that although our troops had previously been engaged with the Caribbees, and some loss had been sustained on each side, a treaty of peace was concluded, by which on the surrender of certain portions' of territory, and the acknowlegment of his Britannic Majesty as their rightful sovereign, the Caribs were confirmed in their ancient possessions. While Mr. Sharp was thus advocating the cause of the oppressed, the American colonies were preparing to cast off their dependance on the mother country; the principles laid down in some of Mr. Sharp's correspondence encouraged them to anticipate his countenance and support, and a work which he had published, entitled A Declaration of the People's natural rights to a share in the Legislature,' was reprinted and widely circulated in America. When the contest commenced, large demands for stores, &c. were received, and Mr. S. holding a situation in the Ordnance department, was required to take an active part in forwarding these supplies; feeling a conscientious objection to being in any way engaged in this contest, Mr. S. mentioned his scruples to his superiors, and was by them allowed leave of absence. At length, however, hostilities with America having advanced so far as to preclude all hope of speedy accommodation, Mr. S. resigned his situation, and took up his abode in the house of his brother, where he diligently applied himself to literary pursuits, and prepared and published tracts on various and widely different topics. These severer studies were relaxed by musical performances and compositions, in which Mr. S. and his brothers were assisted by various amateur and professional performers, and entertained royal and distinguished personages on board a yacht, which was, during the summer season, almost constantly inhabited by some of the family. He was still, however, alive to every opportunity of doing good, and on the arrival of Omai, a native of one of the South Sea Islands, in this country, he earnestly sought an introduction, and gave him lessons in reading, &c. and especially laboured to imbue his mind with the essential principles of Christianity. In the year 1776, press warrants were freely issued by the Admiralty, and in consequence, some individuals had been impressed within the city of London, who invoked Mr. Sharp's assistance ; to this, as to every call of distress he cheerfully responded, and wrote an introduction to a work by General Oglethorpe, entitled The Sailor's Advocate.' Nor did his exertions rest here; some officers who had been impressing seamen in Lime Street, were themselves taken into custody by the beadle and constables, and carried before the city magistrates, by whom they were committed to the Compter, and the impressed person bound over to prosecute; the affair was subsequently brought before Lord Mansfield, who directed that the impressed man should be liberated, though the decision was not made in the full and liberal terms which Mr. S. had anticipated; this disgraceful practice, it is deeply to be regretted, is still adopted by our government; though the danger and inconveniences which result from it are such as might well lead to its termination, independent of all considerations arising from justice or humanity. During the whole course of the American contest, Mr. Sharp was feelingly alive to the unhappy events which occurred, and seized every opportunity in his power to induce the contending parties to lay aside their animosity, and treat for peace on equitable terms. His efforts indeed proved in vain, but they served to evince the Christian spirit by which he was actuated, and enabled him at a future period to interfere, so as materially to contribute to the promotion of episcopacy in America, and eventually to obtain the consecration, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in February 1787, of the Rev. Dr. White, as Bishop of Pennsylvania, and the Rev. Dr. Provost, as Bishop of New York, and subse-, quently of the Rev. Dr. Madison, as the Bishop of Virginia; the correspondence indeed which led to this conclusion, extended over several years, but Mr. Sharp had at length the satisfaction of witnessing the success of his labours, in the permament establishment of episcopacy in America. While engaged in these efforts for the promotion of peace, and the advancement of religion in America, Mr. Sharp found leisure for other important efforts; he took an active part in projects] for the reform of parliament; he advocated the cause of armed associations of the people, and some other measures, which, had they succeeded, would probably have produced results very different from those which their benevolent projector anticipated. He published also observations on murder, manslaughter, duelling, &c. but especially laboured in every possible way for the extinction of slavery. His zeal in this cause, always ardent, was powerfully excited by a horrible enormity, which was perpetrated near Jamaica in 1781, but which came before the public, in consequence of an action brought against the underwriters, for the recovery of the value of one hundred and thirty-two slaves, which were thrown overboard and drowned. The circumstances of the case: were these. The ship Zong, Luke Collingwood, master, sailed from St. Thomas, on the coast of Africa, Sept. 4, 1781, with fourteen whites, and four hundred and forty slaves for Jamaica; the master being mistaken in his observations, was driven too much to leeward, and the crew and cargo becoming sickly, it was found on November 29, that sixty slaves, and seven white people had died, and that many others were not likely to live long. On this day the master called together his officers, and stated that if the sick slaves died a natural death, the loss would fall on the owners, but that if they were thrown alive into the sea; on any sufficient press of necessity, the loss would fall on the underwriters, by whom the vessel and cargo was insured. This inhuman proposal was at first rejected, but at length, under the pretext of a scarcity of water, one hundred and thirty slaves were brought upon deck, and thrown overboard; the claim for the value of these slaves was resisted by the underwriters, not on the ground of the barbarous iniquity perpetrated, but on the ground that no such urgent necessity had existed as could justify the throwing overboard a part of the cargo; the question was argued in court just on the same principle as if one hundred and thirty head of cattle, or hogsheads of sugar, had been thrown overboard; and great contempt was expressed for those who made what the opposing counsel characterized as 'pretended appeals to the feelings of humanity.' Mr. Sharp, however was not to be checked by sneers. He immediately addressed a powerful appeal to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of which he forwarded to his Grace the Duke of Portland; he published statements of the case, and reports of the trial in newspapers, magazines, &c. and endeavoured to excite others to the adoption of measures, which might terminate a traffic at once detestable in itself, and attended by the most outrageous atrocities. The narrative, however, of these exertions, and their eventual success, must be unavoidably postponed to a subsequent occasion. THE HEART TO BE DESIRED. SINCE the fall of man, the way of acceptance with God has always been through the mediation and merits of Christ; though the manner of obtaining it has at different times been differently described. In the first ages of the world the religious life was called " walking with God." By this was meant penitence for sin, faith in divine mercy, and in those sacrifices which prefigured the sacrifice of Christ; also daily devotion, and continual attention to the moral duties. Under the law of Moses, the same thing was represented by "fearing the Lord, and keeping his commandments;" importing true piety of heart, and a faithful attendance upon the ordinances prescribed in the law. In the present dispensation, the Christian character is spoken of as "repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, living soberly, righteously," &c. All this, so far as it could be understood, was intended in the declaration to Moses, O that there were such an heart NOVEMBER 1833. in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them." Such a declaration, when applied to ourselves, we should take to mean, O that we had such a new heart, that we would repent of our sins, put our trust in the Saviour, love God, attend upon his worship and ordinances, and be faithful in all the common duties of life for thus it shall be well with us.' 1. A religious life is indispensably required of us. It is required by the principles of reason. A holy God has created us, and preserved us, and given us every blessing. 3 G We should then devote all to his service and his glory. Since he has done so much for us, we should do every thing according to his will. It is daringly ungrateful to abuse the privileges he has afforded us ; grievously sinful to indulge in any conduct, or any disposition that is contrary to the holiness of his nature. The religious life is also commended. The ten commandments, comprising the whole moral law, were spoken by a voice from heaven. The people promised to obey; and the Lord saith, "They have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them," &c. On another occasion, "Ye shall observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord." By one of the prophets, he said, Obey my voice, and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you." In the New Testament, all the exhortations to "repent and be converted," to "love God," to "follow Christ," and "be careful to maintain good works," may be considered as positive commands to a holy and religious life. In that extensive meaning, they that have done good shall come forth to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation." Such a life then is indispensably necessary to salvation. 66 2. In order to such a life, it is necessary to have a new heart. The poison infused into our nature in the garden of Eden, has ever since continued to operate, so that we have all a strong propensity to sin. We do not suitably love God, nor thank him for his mercies, nor pray for his blessing, nor think of his existence. We do not suitably love our fellow men, nor suitably regard their rights or their welfare. We do not suitably restrain our corrupt dispositions, nor use all due diligence to become fitted for the divine presence in heaven. Indeed, while our hearts continue unconverted, we cannot love God, nor live a holy life. So we are taught in the divine word. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." The psalmist had reference to this humiliating truth, when he prayed the Lord to "create a new heart, and renew a right spirit within him." In reference to the same truth, our Lord speaks, 66 except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." So likewise the Apostle, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; all things are become new." This renovation of heart, then, is indispensably necessary to a religious life. 3. If we have "such an heart," "it shall be well with us." "It shall be well," because we shall be delivered from the condemnation of sin. While alienated from God, and given up to careless ways, we were under the curse of his law, every moment exposed to perdition. But when we repented of sin, and became new creatures in Christ Jesus, our souls were freed from bondage, and brought into the liberty of the Gospel. The sword of justice was turned away; the Lord was pacified towards us; be forgave our sins, and accepted us in his beloved Son. "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the spirit of life hath made us free from the law of sin and death." Their sins are done away, and their souls justified through the Saviour's merits. Instead of being any longer aliens and strangers, they have become fellow-citizens with the saints, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. They are special favourites of heaven, and are entitled to a crown of glory, which the righteous Judge shall give them at the great day. "It is well with them," because their souls are in a measure cleansed from sin, and transformed into the divine image. In time past, they were not only under the sentence of the law, but under the power of corrupt dispositions. They were eager after worldly gratifications, but could never be satisfied. When successful, they would be uneasy, and when disappointed, unhappy. But now, their dispositions are changed. They can love God, and take satisfaction in his service. Though they have yet some desire for worldly things, if disappointed, they can submit with great patience, believing that all things shall work for good to them that love God.” In poverty or affliction of any kind, they are cheered with the hope of a better world, and can endure all things with humble resignation to the divine will. In prosperity they can be thankful, and even increase their joy by looking forward to the perfection of it in a better world. The work of righteousness in them is peace; peace with God, peace with man, peace in their own souls, a foretaste of that eternal peace which they may expect to enjoy in heaven. More especially shall it be well with them at the close of life. While "the wicked are driven away in their wickedness, the righteous have hope in their death." From an humble confidence in the Redeemer, and from a view of their glorious crown, they can cheerfully resign their souls into their Creator's hands. ،، When they pass through the valley of the shadow of death, they need fear no evil;" the Lord is with them, to sustain their souls by his divine presence. The partition wall is then broken down; their departing spirits leave the tenements of clay, and are carried by attending angels to the paradise of God. There they are introduced into his blissful presence, to join the millions of happy spirits who are singing the praises of redeeming love. Having washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb," they are fitted for his presence and his glory. Above all, it shall be well with them at the judgment day. The trumpet shall sound; the sleeping bodies shall be raised, united to their souls, and all stand before the divine tribunal. The Lord Jesus shall be seated on the throne of judgment, and separating the righteous from the wicked, shall say to them, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom." Then surely it shall be well with them. Though once so sinful, and so unfit for his yet, being purified from all sin, they are admitted into the joy of their Lord. When on earth, how cold was their love! how languid their devotions! how imperfect their whole Christian character! presence, But in that future world, all imperfections shall be done away; every desire will be fixed upon God, and every joy will be complete, as being derived from his favour. It shall thus for ever be well with those who have such an heart that they fear the Lord, and keep his commandments. O that there were such an heart in us all, that we were truly humbled by repentance, united to the Saviour by faith, and steadfastly engaged in his service. He has provided us means, called us by his word, and moved us by his Spirit; if we neglect to comply, it shall never be well with us; we shall go through life in sin and sorrow, and hereafter be sent down to everlasting wretchedness. Do any wish for such a miserable allotment ? If they do, let them stop their ears against the calls of the gospel, harden their hearts against the influence of grace, and press on resolutely in the way of sin. In that way they may soon reach the misery that is before them. But no, they rather desire happiness. Let them then listen to the calls of God, repent of their sins, seek for a new heart in Christ Jesus, live a pious and holy life, and it shall be well with them for SENEX. ever. |